Bridge



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. E. FISHER.

BRIDGE.

N0.5Q$1,832. Patented Oct. 19,1897.

i 51mm to@ MMM E @hmm/1,65

2. t e e h S nu e h S 2 R E HR SG ID PT.. .n E D M. d 0 M 0 m No. 591,832. Patented Oct. 19,1897

NITED STATES DAVID n.A FISHER, or ,KENTOIL oIIIo.

BRIDGE.

sPEcIFIcATIoN forming part of `Letters Patent No. 591,832, dated october 19, 1897.

Application `filed March 24 1896- To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, DAVID E. FISHER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Kenton, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Imto the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates lto improvements in bridges, and has special reference to suspension-bridges.

It consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bridge embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of a portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modification adapted to bridges of a lighter form than that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. l is a detail perspective view of a portion of the bridge shown in Fig. 8. Fig.l 5 lis a side elevation showing another modification. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, and Figs. 7 and S are detail views showing peculiarities of construction employed in iron bridges.

In carrying out my invention I make use of the usual piers or abutments A, upon which I build boxes B, which are iilled with rocks, waste iron, dac., to make a heavy anchor and hold the bridge and prevent its being carried away by freshets. Anchored in these boxes and rising therefrom are the posts or columns C, which are constructed of two parallel vertical timbers bolted together. These posts or columns, it will be understood, are erected on both sides of the stream, and chords D are securedtoand extend between the same on a level with the roadway, while their upper ends are connected by slightly-arched chords E. The Hoor-supporting beams F are passed beneath the lower chords D and are shouldered to iit snugly against the same, as shown most clearly in Fig. 8. The projecting `ends of the j oists are secured in clevises or brack- Seral No. 584,703. (No model.)

C, and asingle roller or pulley L in the outery posts C near the bottom of the same.

A series of cables 1 2 3 pass over the pulleys K Land under thepulleys .I and are provided with the usual turnbuckles, so that they may be drawn taut, so as to receive the strain of the bridge and support the same. The end of the cable 3 is secured to the inner end of a locking or bracing lever M, which is pivoted within the inner post C, directly above the chord D, and is adapted to lie on said chord. The end of the cable 2 is secured to the end of a lever N, pivoted within the outer column C and having arms O secured to its inner end and adapted to come into contact with the blocks or stops R, secured to the sides of the chords D. The end of the cable 1 is secured to the lever P, pivoted within the column C and having arms Q at its inner end adapted to strike against the stops R. It will thusbe readily seen that after the cables have been brought to the `proper tension any strain on the central intermediate portion of the bridge will tend to depress the central portions of the cables, and

the levers will then be immediately caused" to turn so as throw their locking ends and arms against the lower chords and the stops thereon and consequently brace the bridge, so as to prevent any sagging thereof.

Actual experience has shown that in bridges constructed without the locking-levers employed by me some part of the tensile strength of the cables is not utilized and that the interposition of the levers utilizes the entire tensile strength of the cables.

In Figs. 3 and 4l I have shown a bridge adapted to shorter spans and smaller streams than that shown in Fig. 1. In this form of bridge but two cables are used, and of course only two locking-levers are employed. The upper IOO zo roller b to the lever c.

cable c passes over a pulley or roller b, hung on the upper chord of the bridge between the columns C, thence to and around a roller c, mounted in the outer column C, and thence 5 over a roller d in the inner column C, whence it passes to a lever e and is secured, said lever c being arranged and operating in the same manner as the lever M. (Shownin Figs. l and 2.) The lower cable f passes over a 1o roller g on the side of the inner column umn C.

In Fig. 5 I have shown still another form in which the lever e is shifted over to the outer column C. and the roller c is dispensed with, the cable a passing directly from the The arrangements shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 operate precisely as. those shown in Figs. l and 2, but are sim- ,JW plenandconsequently better adapted for use over small streams, where a cheaper and shorter bridge is desirable.

In order to maintain the members of the posts at Ihe proper. distance apar-t., I employ the. construction illustrated in Fig. 6. Stops 10 10 are adj ustably mounted on thesecuring- 3o bolt 1l and turned up against the members of the post, as shown. j usted to hold the members of the post at any desired distance apart, as will be readily understood, and after the fastening-nuts have 3 5 been turned home the structure will be rigid.

In Fig. Z I have shown a metal column which may be used instead of the wooden column shown in the other iigures. In this case the columns are com-posed of vertical 4o straps or stays 14, which are bolted to and risey from the clevises l2, bolted to the floorsupporting beams F on opposite sides of the chord D. The lowermost cable in this form of bridge will pass below the licor-beams and run under pulleys or rollers mounted in hangers 13, secured to. and depending from thel clevises l2, and it will be obvious that the said hangers will vary in length, the hangers on the Central column being lower or longer The stops can be ad- Athan the end hangers, so as to give the proper curve er how to the cable.

In Fig. 8 the stays 14 are continued below the beam F and are connected at various points by straps 15, the lowermost pair of said straps serving to hold the pulley. These straps 15, it will be readily understood, are used on the columns illustrated in` Fig. 7 to provide bearings for the upper rollers.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that I have provided abridge of a simple and etcient construction, andv which @an be easily, rapidly, and cheaply built. The strain is entirely on the cables p andV no increase in the size of any part except the cable is necessary to adapt the construction to larger bridges or bridges subj jected to greater strain.

I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a bridge, the combination with the frame, of supporting-cables mounted thereon, and locking-'levers mounted on the frame and attached tothe cables.

2'. The combination with the frame, of lock- 1 ing-levers pivoted thereto and adapted to bear thereon, and supporting-cables attached i to said levers and supporting the frame.

3. The combination with the frame, of pulleys mounted on the frame, locking-levers, pivoted thereto and adapted to impinge on stops on the side of the frame, and cables i passing over the pulleys and attached to the p locking-levers.

i 4. rI he combination with the chord and the l licor-beams,y of clev-ises secured to said beams l on opposite sides of the chord, a hanger secured to and` depending from said clevises, a roller mounted in said hanger to guide the i suspension-cable, and columns rising from the clevises.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature iu presence of two witnesses.

` DAVID E. FISHER.

Witnesses:

R. W.l BISHOP,

JOHN IMIRIE, Jr.

Having thus described my invention,what 

